Transfer means for mine cars



May 19, 931- E. MHHAWKINS 1,805,910

TRANSFER MEANS FOR MINE CARS Filed June 21. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

May 19, 1931. M HAWKINS \TRANS FER MEANS FOR MINE CARS Filed June 21. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 19, 1931 EDI/YARD MARTIN HAWKINS, 01E GLEZEN, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO -WA.EREN E. POUDE-R, OF

IPIKE COUNTY, INDIANA.

TRANSEER MEANS non MINE CARS Application filed June 2 1,

The transfer of empty mine cars, for instance, coal cars, from the empty track to the loading track where the loaded car will be taken away by an electric engine, requires special means'which constitutes the occasion for the present invention.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, eflicient, portable, and foldable transfer means for the foregoing purpose,

w embodying improvements enabling the de-" vice to be applied to any point of the parallel empty and loading tracks, and by which the empty car can be run onto the present transfer means and quickly shifted tothe loading track.

The invention also comprises special means to transfer the cars, prevent them from getting beyond control, and to enable the device to be swung out of the way when it is necessary to clear either the empty track or binations of parts with associated functions hereinafter described and shown in the ac companying drawings, in which: Figure l, is a plan view showing the transfer means applied to the empty and loading tracks;

Fig. 2, is an end elevation showing the coal car on the transfer car immediately after it has been elevated;

Fig. 3, is a side elevation, dotted lines showing the coal car en route to the loading track, full lines showing the transfer and coal cars above the loading track,- a section of the transfer track being raised to clear the empty track; and V Fig. 4, is a side elevation of the transfer means folded up, ready for transportation.

In practice, the tracks 1 and2 are parallel and separated from each other a distance which may Vary from five to twenty-five feet.

Either one of the tracks may be used forthe 1930. Seria1No.462,906. 1

veniently located to the supply of the material, for instance, coal. The electric engine which moves the empty or loaded cars, may travel on elther track 1 or track 2. With such an arrangement the necessity arisesfor the,

transfer of empty cars from one track to the other and, in order to save overhead charges, 1t 1s of mportance that the transfer be quickly consummated and that the transfer means I be. located at the point where it is needed.

@rdinary turn tables and cross tracks not successfully meeting the necessities of a situation of this character, I have devised the present invention forthe-purpose of effecting quick and easy transfer at any point of the two tracks, such means being new described.

The'present means is unitary, avoiding the.

accidental loss of necessary parts. There 1s a center sectlon comprising rails 3 supported by ties'l, and foldable end sections comprising rails 5 which are jointed or hinged at 6 to the rails 3 and form a'continuation thereof; The ends of the rails 5 are provided with upstanding abutments -7 to prevent thetrans fer car 8 which runs on therails 3 and 5,

from runningofl the ends of the rails 5.

The rails 5 are mounted on stringers 9 which are arranged in crosswise relation thereto and adapted tracks 1 and 2. I .7 p l V Inclined rails 10 are carried by cross pieces or ties 11 so that the inclined. rails overlie therails of the tracks 1 and 2, enabling the wheels of the mine or coal car 12 to run up above the rails of the empty track and onto the transfer car Sand to berun down from the transfer car ontothe rails of the loading' track, or vice versa. The ties or cross pieces 11 have depending end parts 13' which lie, outside the rails ofithe respective tracks land 2 and prevent lateral displacement of to rest on the ties of the the device, thus keeping the inclined rails 10 in alinement with the rails of said tracks 1 and 2. i

@The transfer car 8 being adapted to travel on the rails 3, '5, can be alined with the rails of the tracks 1 and 2 so that the car 12 may be received onto the transfer car 8 or allowed to pass therefrom. To line up the transfer car 8 with the inclined track sections of rails 10 and also to hold the car 12 on the car 8', the car 8 is provided with channels 1 1 which receive the flanges of the wheels of the car 12.

If it becomes necessary to clear either track, the rails 5 can be swung upwardly, as shown in Fig. 3 to allow the cars or engine to pass.

The transfer means may be readily folded into compact form, as shown in Fig. 4: so that it may be shifted from place to place and positioned at any desired point of the tracks 1 and 2. When thus positioned, the rails 3, 5 are opened out, the ties 1 are loaded on the road bed between the tracks 1 and 2, and the rails 5 are opened out horizontally to bring the inclined rails 10 in alinement with the rails of the respective tracks and they are kept in that position by the retain- 7 ing devices 13.

WVhat I claim is:

1. Means for transferring cars from one track to another track, comprising cross rails extending from one track to the other track, pairs of inclined rails connected to the afore said cross rails at both ends of the latter, and a transfer car adapted to travel on the cross rails, whereby a car may be run up to the transfer car or run down from said transfer car onto either track without necessitating re-laying or shifting of the cross rails, said cross rails and inclined rails being connected together.

2. Means for transferring cars from one track to another track, comprising cross rails extending from one track to the other track, inclined rails connected to the aforesaid rails, and a transfer car adapted to travel onthe cross rails, whereby a car may be run up to the transfer car or run down from said transfer car onto either track, said inclined rails and cross rails being joined together so that the cross rails and inclined rails may be folded for transportation or either set of inclined rails may be swung from the track to permit the passage of a car or engine thereon.

8.. A u itary transfer means whereby cars may be'shifted laterally from one track to another, comprising a cross track having a center section adapted to rest upon the road bed between the aforesaid tracks, end sec tions jointed to the center section in foldable relationship thereto, stringers, connected to the end sec'tionsand adapted to rest on the ties of the respective tracks, cross pieces carried by said stringers, inclined rails carried by said cross pieces and adapted to be placed in overlying relationship to the rails of the respective tracks, -means for holding the stringers in position and the inclined rails alined with the rails ofthe respective tracks, and end abutments for the cross track, said EDWARD MARTIN HAWKINS. 

